BLACK SPRING EP
Executive Produced by Samora Pinderhughes, Jack DeBoe, and Jesse Sachs
Written and Composed by Samora Pinderhughes
Produced & Mixed by Jack DeBoe
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound

cover artwork: "To Be Sold" from the Shred Presidents series by Titus Kaphar

**

HOLD THAT WEIGHT: 

Music and Lyrics by Samora Pinderhughes
Production by Jack DeBoe
Mixed by Jack DeBoe
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Engineered by Brad Allen Williams & Jack DeBoe at Figure 8 Recording 
Assistant Engineered by Michael Coleman & Lily Wen

Samora Pinderhughes - Piano, Mellotron, Hammond B3, Oberheim SEM
Jack DeBoe - Drums, Drum Programming
Brad Allen Williams - Electric Guitar
Gabe Schnider - Electric Guitar
Josh Hari - Electric Bass
Riley Mulherker - Trumpet
Andy Clausen - Trombone
Lucas Pino - Bass Clarinet

KILL WAR:

Music and Lyrics by Samora Pinderhughes
Co-Produced by Jack DeBoe and Samora Pinderhughes
Mixed by Jack DeBoe
Engineered by Phil Weinrobe at Figure 8 Recording 

Samora Pinderhughes - Vocals, Piano

BLOOD (ft. Lhasa de Sela):

Sampled from “Soon This Space Will Be Too Small” by Lhasa de Sela on “The Living Road"

Lyrics by Samora Pinderhughes and Lhasa de Sela
Music by Samora Pinderhughes, Jack DeBoe, and Lhasa de Sela
Produced by Jack DeBoe
Mixed by Jack DeBoe
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Vocals Engineered by Beatriz Artola at Electric Lady Studios 

Samora Pinderhughes - Vocals, Piano, Wurlizter
Jack DeBoe - Vocals, Drum Programming
Burniss Earl Travis - Electric Bass

FOR THOSE LOST, FOR THOSE TAKEN:

Music and Lyrics by Samora Pinderhughes
Produced by Jack DeBoe
Mixed by Jack DeBoe
Engineered by Jack DeBoe at Figure 8 Recording

Samora Pinderhughes - Vocals, Piano

BLACK SPRING EP

Single Petal of a Rose/Body and Soul

Momentum,Pt. 2 - first single from the album The Transformations Suite

by Samora Pinderhughes | visit www.transformationssuite.com for more info

ALBUM OUT OCTOBER 12

Lyrics:

These questions must be asked:
Why are there millions of poor people in America?
Who owns the banks?
Who owns the prisons, and who are its occupants?
Why do some have billions, while most struggle to survive?

We can’t sit idly by while some profit off of the pain of others.
While gates both visible and invisible separate the wealthy from the hungry... When the consequences of these barriers result in everything from flooded homes to broken dreams.
When death is a cost we have grown accustomed to bearing,   
we cannot compromise in our pursuit of justice.
We cannot retreat in the face of inequity,
We cannot ignore the patterns of brutality,
We will NOT be silenced!

The depression is coming in heavy.
I can feel it from all corners, shape-shifting around me. Betrayal lays like a heavy fog in the air I breathe.
I know I’m a target... but I must keep moving.

On this blistering August day, we stand face to face with our beloved country, as we have done so many times before,
and demand:
You’re very fabric must be changed! (America) YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
And as our final hour draws ever, ever closer, it seems to me in my sanctified imagination, that we cry...
that we cry...
Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now, Now, Now, Now, NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Transformations Suite combines music, theatre, and poetry to examine the radical history of resistance within the communities of the African Diaspora. Continuing in the tradition of artists such as Bob Marley, Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday and Tupac Shakur, the suite paints a musical picture of the current state of social inequality and injustice in the United States and beyond.

"An urgent and powerful record by one of this generation's most captivating composers. A must have record for anyone interested in progress. Musically or otherwise.." 
-Christian Scott

"An absolutely gorgeous piece of music. A huge undertaking; a nuanced, delicate, and powerful perspective on heavy and important topics."
-Anna Deavere Smith

art must reflect life.
#tsuitemoments #continuethestruggle

- - - - 

Personnel:

Samora Pinderhughes - piano, composer, creator
Jeremie Harris - spoken word
Jehbreal Muhammad Jackson - vocals
Elena Pinderhughes - flute
Riley Mulherkar - trumpet
Lucas Pino - tenor saxophone
Tony Lustig - baritone saxophone
Clovis Nicolas - bass
Jimmy Macbride - drums

Momentum, Pt. 2 - from the album The Transformations Suite

The Transformations Suite combines music, theatre, and poetry to examine the radical history of resistance within communities of the African diaspora. The themes of the suite move through five distinct phases: Transformation, History, Cycles, Momentum (parts 1 and 2), and Ascension. Continuing in the tradition of artists like Bob Marley, Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, and Tupac Shakur, the suite paints a musical picture of the current state of social inequality and injustice in the United States and beyond.

Within this framework, the project connects contemporary issues, such as the prison industrial complex and the Black Lives Matter movement, with the history of revolutionary movements of color. The composition builds a bridge between the past and the future – all within the context of poignant, beautiful, and sweeping moments created by the suite’s music. The powerful lyrics consist mostly of original poems by actor and poet Jeremie Harris, augmented by contributions from Pinderhughes, Saul Williams, and Tupac Shakur.

The Transformations Suite has been performed throughout South America and the U.S., at venues including the American Museum of Natural History, the Harlem Arts Festival, Juilliard, UC Irvine, NYU, Joe’s Pub, the Jazz Gallery, MoMA, and Columbia University. Most recently, the project was featured as part of Blackout for Human Rights’ #MLKNow event which was viewed by over 500,000 people and trended #1 on Twitter.

Centered in the belief that there is a soundtrack to every revolution, the vision for The Transformations Suite is that it will foster dialogue on social justice issues throughout the world, show how art can create social change, contribute to the powerful growing movement on behalf of black lives around the country, and empower all people – especially youth – to make their voices heard.

The release of The Transformations Suite was preceded by an event called “Black Male Re-Imagined”, a project co-presented by the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, where The Transformations Suite served as the prism through which artists and activists reflect on the current state of our nation. This event, doubling as the album’s release show, took place on October 11 at The Kennedy Center, including Lalah Hathaway, Freeway, Christian Scott, Haile Gerima, and more.

The Transformations Suite is released worldwide on October 12, 2016.

You can find the album on iTunes, Bandcamp, and all other outlets.
Special free bundles of the album will be available for youth organizations, activist groups, and schools.

“Wonderful...an absolutely gorgeous piece of music. A huge undertaking;; a nuanced, delicate, and powerful perspective on heavy and important topics."
- Anna Deavere Smith

"An urgent and powerful record by one of this generation’s most captivating composers. Not to mention an incredibly formidable player – Samora's command of the piano is out of this world! A must have record for anyone interested in progress. Musically or otherwise.."
- Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

“Samora Pinderhughes calls for reappraisal of black life's value in ‘The Transformations Suite’... it is a five-part tone poem, arranged over meticulously created big band jazz instrumentals, with aims to provide a motivational and emotional engine to push forward the mission of Black Lives Matter."
- Mic.com

06 Ascension - from "The Transformations Suite"

03 Cycles - from "The Transformations Suite"

02 History - from "The Transformations Suite"

01 Transformation - from "The Transformations Suite"

INERTIA .

Second Single off of VENUS.

Music and Lyrics by Samora Pinderhughes
Production and Mixing by Jack DeBoe
Engineered by Brad Allen Williams & Jack DeBoe at Figure 8 Recording (figure8recording.com)
Assistant Engineered by Michael Coleman & Lily Wen
Mastered by Bob Power

Samora Pinderhuges - Vocals, Wurlitzer 140B Electric Piano, Oberheim SEM 4 Voice, Elka Synthex, & Hammond M3 Organ
Mike Bono -Electric Guitar 
Gabe Schnider -Electric Guitar
Jack DeBoe - Drum Programming

GATSBY

For Those Lost, For Those Taken

Blood (ft. Lhasa de Sela)

Kill War

Here we present: "Hold That Weight", the first single off of the upcoming "BLACK SPRING" EP, written/performed by Samora Pinderhughes and produced by Jack DeBoe.

"Hold That Weight" is about how to support each other – it asks the question: in times when people are struggling, what does it really look like to help carry their burdens?

This is the first single from the BLACK SPRING EP project because it most directly addresses the current Covid-19 crisis; it was written before this, but really applies to the senses we are all feeling at this moment -
How we’re trying to cope; how this crisis has exposed some of the real inequalities in the American system; and how we’re all trying to figure out what it looks like to help and support one another during this crisis.
And especially how we can support those most vulnerable to this crisis (the houseless, those in prison/detention, those without work, those without health insurance or access to health).

I sincerely hope this song lifts you up in times of despair, and inspires you to continue to support yourself, your community, and all those in need around you. And know I'll always be here to help hold your weight.

Much love,
Samora

CREDITS : 
released April 3, 2020
Music and Lyrics by Samora Pinderhughes
Production by Jack DeBoe
Mixed by Jack DeBoe
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Engineered by Brad Allen Williams & Jack DeBoe at Figure 8 Recording
Assistant Engineered by Michael Coleman & Lily Wen

Samora Pinderhughes - Piano, Mellotron, Hammond B3, Oberheim SEM
Jack DeBoe - Drums, Drum Programming
Brad Allen Williams - Electric Guitar
Gabe Schnider - Electric Guitar
Josh Hari - Electric Bass
Riley Mulherker - Trumpet
Andy Clausen - Trombone
Lucas Pino - Bass Clarinet

Hold That Weight

Samora Pinderhughes is a composer/pianist/vocalist known for large multidisciplinary projects and for using music to examine sociopolitical issues. 
Samora is the first ever 2018 Arts for Justice + Soros Justice Fellow.
Mentored by Anna Deavere Smith, Samora created The Transformations Suite, recognized by Apple Music as a Top 10 album of the year. 
A graduate of the Juilliard School, Samora has collaborated with artists including Herbie Hancock, Glenn Ligon, Sara Bareilles, and Lalah Hathaway. A Sundance Composers Lab fellow, Samora has written music for the HBO film The Tale, the Netflix film Burning Sands and more. He collaborates frequently with Common, and is the lead vocalist on the new album August Greene.

Samora Pinderhughes

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